Apparatus and method for stamping a surface

A method for stamping a surface of an article, the surface of the article having an alignment pattern, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a support structure having a surface;
• providing a first pressure-controlled chamber disposed above the surface of the support structure;
• providing a flexible stamp having edges, an outer surface;
• and a stamping surface including a predetermined pattern;
• positioning the flexible stamp above the support structure so that the stamping surface opposes the surface of the support structure and so that the stamping surface is within the first pressure-controlled chamber;
• placing the article on the surface of the support structure and within the first pressure-controlled chamber so that the surface of the article opposes the stamping surface;
• wetting the stamping surface with a fluid;
• controllably contacting the stamping surface with the surface of the article so that the predetermined pattern of the stamping surface is stamped onto the surface of the article;
• providing an alignment pattern positioned on the flexible stamp;
• and
• prior to controllably contacting the stamping surface, aligning the alignment pattern of the article with the alignment pattern of the flexible stamp including the step of deforming the flexible stamp to compensate for runout and bowing of the flexible stamp which can distort the predetermined pattern of the stamping surface.

A method for stamping a surface of an article comprising the steps of:

• providing a support structure having a surface;
• providing a first pressure-controlled chamber disposed above the surface of the support structure;
• providing a flexible stamp having edges, an outer surface, and a stamping surface including a predetermined pattern;
• positioning the flexible stamp above the support structure so that the stamping surface opposes the surface of the support structure and so that the stamping surface is within the first pressure-controlled chamber;
• placing the article on the surface of the support structure and within the first pressure-controlled chamber so that the surface of the article opposes the stamping surface;
• wetting the stamping surface with a fluid;
• controllably contacting the stamping surface with the surface of the article so that the predetermined pattern of the stamping surface is stamped onto the surface of the article;
• defining at least three local alignment fields within the flexible stamp;
• forming a first plurality of alignment patterns on the flexible stamp;
• positioning the first plurality of alignment patterns one each in the local alignment fields;
• forming a second plurality of alignment patterns on the surface of the article;
• and
• prior to controllably contacting the stamping surface, aligning the first plurality of alignment patterns with the second plurality of alignment patterns in a predetermined manner and including the step of deforming the flexible stamp to compensate for runout and bowing of the flexible stamp
• whereby alignment of the first plurality of alignment patterns with the second plurality of alignment patterns indicates that the flexible stamp is positioned so that the predetermined pattern of the flexible stamp can be printed onto the surface of the article in a predetermined orientation relative to the surface of the article.

A method for stamping a surface of an article comprising the steps of:

• providing a support structure having a surface;
• providing a first pressure-controlled chamber disposed above the surface of the support structure;
• providing a flexible stamp having edges, an outer surface, and a stamping surface including a predetermined pattern;
• positioning the flexible stamp above the support structure so that the stamping surface opposes the surface of the support structure and so that the stamping surface is within the first pressure-controlled chamber;
• placing the article on the surface of the support structure and within the first pressure-controlled chamber so that the surface of the article opposes the stamping surface;
• wetting the stamping surface with a fluid;
• positioning the flexible stamp so that the stamping surface is in close proximity to the surface of the article thereby defining a printing gap between the stamping surface and the surface of the article;
• immovably securing the flexible stamp at the edges;
• providing within the first pressure-controlled chamber an inert gas having a pressure sufficient to maintain the printing gap between the stamping surface and the surface of the article;
• and
• thereafter reducing the pressure of the inert gas in a controlled manner so that contact between the stamping surface and the surface of the article commences substantially at the center of the flexible stamp and proceeds outwardly away from the center in a controlled fashion thereby preventing undesired entrapment of the inert gas between the surface of the article and the stamping surface
• thereby controllably contacting the stamping surface with the surface of the article so that the predetermined pattern of the stamping surface is stamped onto the surface of the article.

A method for stamping a surface of an article comprising the steps of:

• providing a support structure having a surface;
• providing a first pressure-controlled chamber disposed above the surface of the support structure;
• providing a flexible stamp having edges, an outer surface, and a stamping surface including a predetermined pattern;
• positioning the flexible stamp above the support structure so that the stamping surface opposes the surface of the support structure and so that the stamping surface is within the first pressure-controlled chamber;
• placing the article on the surface of the support structure and within the first pressure-controlled chamber so that the surface of the article opposes the stamping surface;
• wetting the stamping surface with a fluid;
• providing a second pressure-controlled chamber disposed above the flexible stamp so that the outer surface of the flexible stamp is positioned in the second pressure-controlled chamber;
• positioning the flexible stamp so that the stamping surface is in close proximity to the surface of the article thereby defining a printing gap between the stamping surface and the surface of the article;
• immovably securing the flexible stamp at the edges;
• providing an inert gas within the first pressure-controlled chamber to define a first printing pressure;
• providing an inert gas within the second pressure-controlled chamber to define a second printing pressure whereby the first printing pressure and the second printing pressure establish a pressure differential across the flexible stamp;
• and
• controllably increasing the second printing pressure within the second pressure-controlled chamber so that contact between the stamping surface and the surface of the article commences substantially at the center of the flexible stamp and proceeds in a controlled manner outwardly thereby preventing entrapment of the inert gas between the stamping surface and the surface of the article
• thereby controllably contacting the stamping surface with the surface of the article so that the predetermined pattern of the stamping surface is stamped onto the surface of the article.